Lincoln (Neb.) - Oct. 8, 1998 - The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has named Ann Mari May, associate professor of economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the 1998 Nebraska Professor the Year. May was one of 12 nominees this year.
The Carnegie Award is the latest in a growing list of teaching awards for May, who earlier this year received one of two systemwide Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Awards from the University of Nebraska. She also has won distinguished teaching awards from both the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the College of Business Administration since joining the Nebraska faculty in 1987.
"I was pleased to learn the Carnegie Foundation has selected Professor Ann Mari May as Professor of the Year for the state of Nebraska," said Nebraska Chancellor James Moeser. "The University of Nebraska places a high premium on the teaching role of our faculty and winning an award like this highlights this critical role in a very public manner. The recognition that has been extended to Professor May will be celebrated by all members of the NU community."
May is perhaps best known for her reconstruction of the economic history curriculum, which covers such topics as America's transition from an agrarian to an industrial economy; the consolidation of U.S. business enterprise; the Great Depression; and the government's role in managing the economy. She also developed a new course, Women and Work in the U.S. Economy, which examines the transformation of women's economic roles from colonial times to the present.
She has brought to campus provocative speakers, including Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center; Gloria Steinem, feminist author and co-founder of Ms. magazine; and Myra and David Sadker, who have studied sex bias in education and business.
"I am delighted and grateful to receive this prestigious award," May said. "The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has been at the forefront of a much-needed effort to refocus the attention of faculty on the scholarship of teaching. For me, this award represents recognition of the efforts of many faculty at the University of Nebraska who are working to change institutional priorities and challenge themselves and their students through innovative teaching."
May's classes are always full despite her reputation for strict grading standards and the fact that she requires extensive reading, writing and classroom participation - requirements that go the heart of her teaching philosophy.
"I did not become a professor solely because I was interested in economics or enamored with the prospect of doing research alone," she said. "I became a professor because of the thrill of working with students to help them understand the world around them and the hope that they would be inspired to make some small part of it better.
"In teaching economics, my primary goal is to challenge my students to think critically. I ask my students to examine the economy as they would a piece of sculpture. They need to turn it around and look at a topic from a variety of perspectives before they can truly understand it."
An Omaha native, May earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees at Colorado State University.
The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
established the Professors of the Year program in 1981 and works
in cooperation with the Carnegie Foundation and higher education
associations in its administration. CASE is an international
association for professionals in alumni relations, communications
and fundraising at colleges, universities and independent
elementary and secondary schools. The Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching, a policy center in Palo Alto, Calif., is
devoted to strengthening America's schools and colleges.
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